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Maidstone 7 Sidcup 8 |
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Yet another game ended in disappointment for Maidstone, particularly so as Sidcup were propping up the league. Frankly a game neither side showed any invention and progressively bored all who were watching the more the match went on!!! Maidstone started as if they were going to put in place everything they had been training so hard to do during the week. Within 4 minutes a Martin Arnold break up field, swift feeding across the backs with full back Eugine Moore joining the line at speed ,drew his opposite number and passed to Neil Graves who used his strength and pace to get to the line and then had the foresight to run round behind the posts. Craig Whitehead added the points. We thought we were at last in for a treat!
Shortly after following a missed touch from Maidstone Fly Half Glen Aukett allowed Sidcup to counter attack and get into the home half for the first time. A penalty was given away and Richard Pilgrim kicked the points for the visitors. Maidstone hit back after a quick penalty but knocked on under the posts. Shortly after a line out stolen by Steve Matthews for the second time almost put Neil Graves through again but he was held up over the line. Sidcup broke away and were allowed to race a full 50 yards, forcing a line out 10 metres out from the Maidstone line from which they got the touch down for the try that ended the scoring for the match. And there was still time to go before half time.
From now on the game became a litany of errors.2 teams now playing with no confidence and endeavouring to outdo each other in seeing how many mistakes they could make! The last of which went to Sidcup whose scrum half James Cosh stepping inside and unimpeded crossed the line only to drop the ball!!
The few hardy souls who come to watch had long since retired to the warmth and comfort of the bar to watch the international! Who could blame them!
Maidstone now have to look at themselves and see where they have gone wrong as after such a promising start to the season they now find themselves near the bottom of the league. After all a good team doesn’t become a bad team overnight.
Lets hope for all concerned that the corner is turned very soon, otherwise it’s going to be a very long winter!
Try: Neil Graves Conversion: Craig Whitehead
Team: Maidstone: Eugine Moore, Mark Ryan, Martin Arnold, Darren Claasens, Neil Graves, Glen Aukett, Craig Whitehead, Scott McIlroy, Jon Sargent(C), Matt Plowman, Adam Webb, Steve Matthews, Nick Sargent, John O’Brien, Ben Court. (Neil Smitherman) |